Giannis Antetokoumpo was unable to appear in the first round of the Milwaukee Bucks' series against the Indiana Pacers due to a calf injury. 

Antetokoumpo's status heading into Game 6 was slightly more promising, but he was ruled out. 

"I tried my best to come back to help my teammates," Antetokounmpo said Friday. "It's kind of hard to see them being out there and not being able to help them, but I just couldn't.

"I did all the tests I had to do, these like protocols you have to follow and have to check the boxes. I wasn't even close at checking the boxes."

Antetokoumpo suffered the injury at the end of the regular season and last played on April 9th.

Antetokoumpo missed multiple playoff games last season as well with a back injury.

Antetokounmpo was asked if he might change his approach next season.

"I don't know. Maybe I do follow a different pattern," Antetokounmpo said. "Maybe try different things. I don't like the word 'rest.' Like, if I can play, I will play. If I cannot play, I can't play.

"I'm for sure going to sit down and think about it, of how my summer is going to look like and how next year is going to look like."

What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Thursday, May 2, 2024.

Damian Lillard will return to the lineup for the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 6 at the Indiana Pacers after missing their Game 5 win. Lillard is dealing with an Achilles injury.

Giannis Antetokounmpo, however, will remain out as he continues to deal with a calf injury.

The Bucks trail the Pacers 3-2 in their first round series. 

What happened in two snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.

Anthony Edwards has generated over 100 million views across the NBA's social and digital platforms since the start of the playoffs, according to the league's communications department.

The number only trails LeBron James with 130 million views.

Edwards was the seventh most-viewed player on the league's digital platforms during the regular season.

Edwards has also gained the most Instagram followers among players since the start of the playoffs.

The Timberwolves open their second round series against the Nuggets on Saturday.

Chris Finch is planning to be on the Minnesota Timberwolves' sideline for Game 1 of their series against the Denver Nuggets.

Finch had surgery to repair a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee on Wednesday.

Assistant Micah Nori is taking over head coaching duties in Finch's absence.

Due to a lack of spacing on the bench, Finch may switch seats with athletic trainer Gregg Farnam on the sideline for increased leg room. 

Game 5 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets averaged 4.53 million viewers across TNT and truTV.

The series has delivered four out of the seven most-watched games in the first round.

The Celtics-Heat lead in with 3.01 million viewers.

The first round was averaging 3.1 million viewers through Sunday.

What happened in three snapshots in the NBA Playoffs on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

The Milwaukee Bucks staved off elimination in Game 5, beating the Indiana Pacers 115-92. The Bucks won the game without both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, who are both currently injured. The win was the first in NBA history for a team without their two top scorers from the regular season.

Antetokounmpo and Lillard have a chance to return for Game 6 at Indiana.

Doc Rivers said both players are scheduled to work out on the court during the off day Wednesday.

"I think they're very, very, very close," Rivers said.

NBA playoff games are averaging a 1.7 rating with 3.1 million viewers across ABC, ESPN, TNT, truTV and NBA TV through Sunday.

That number is down 6% in viewership from last year, but up 5% from 2022.

Saturday's Game 4 between the Lakers and Nuggets averaged 5.67 million viewers on ABC, the largest audience of the NBA season.

The Lakers took part in five out of the ten most-watched games this season.